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Matrikulasi KPM: a low-cost pre-university route to apply for a degree

A pre-university route with a separate degree application afterwards. Check the current intake notice: historical brochure requirements and aid do not guarantee a 2027/28 place.

Reviewed by Mereka staff

Published 24 Oct 2026Next check due 24 Jan 20275 min read18 of 18 facts verified against their sources

Key facts

  • Matrikulasi prepares you to apply for a degree; it does not guarantee a university place.[1][2]
  • The historical KPM brochure lists one-year streams and a two-year Science option. Different minimum grades do not mean an easier course.[1]
  • The 2027/28 application dates and current requirements are not established by this historical source set. Check the official portal before applying.

Eligibility and selection

The 2025 brochure lists Malaysian citizenship, a current SPM candidature and an age condition. Check the exact current-cycle wording and age-calculation date; do not rule yourself in or out using an old brochure. Minimum grades mean eligible to be considered, not an offer cutoff. Ask about stream availability and the selection process.[1]

KPM's 8 April 2026 statement described a 90% Bumiputera quota and the position of 6,717 applicants with 10A or above for the 2026/27 intake. Those were statements for that intake, not a guarantee for 2027/28.[3]

Cost and cash before aid

The cited brochure describes tuition and accommodation as funded and lists RM2,500 yearly aid for eligible students. These are historical brochure statements, not a current personal award. Verify the current offer and eligibility. Budget separately for travel, food, device, books, equipment, medical/documentation charges, deposits and accessibility costs. Confirm when any aid arrives; unknown is not zero.[1]

Application sequence

Check the Matrikulasi portal and KPM notices regularly from late November 2026 as a personal planning reminder, not an official opening date. Do not assume the previous cycle repeats. Apply separately where needed: Matrikulasi application → offer → accept by its deadline → college placement → complete the programme → apply through the relevant UPU degree category → degree selection → appeal if available. A current SPM UPU application and a later Matrikulasi-to-degree UPU application are different stages.[1][2]

What this means for you

Compare subjects, duration, residential/access arrangements and alternative routes. A two-year option remains demanding. A historical institutional progression percentage is not your probability of a degree place. Keep STPM, diploma, TVET and other suitable alternatives open.

Your next step

Open KPM Matrikulasi(opens in a new tab) and UPU(opens in a new tab). Record the intake year, notice date, official deadline and documents. Ask the college about costs and access before accepting. Source set reviewed 24 October 2026; historical source dates are retained.

How sure are we?

Each fact or figure in this guide, and how well its sources back it up. Checking evidence is a skill: open a source and see if you agree.

18 of 18 facts verified against their sources

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    Matrikulasi KPM has five streams: Sains, Sains Komputer, Kejuruteraan, Perakaunan and Perakaunan Profesional.

    Sources:[1][4]

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    The Science stream runs as 1 year (two semesters) or 2 years (four semesters); the other streams run for 1 year (two semesters).

    Sources:[1]

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    Science 1-year minimum: BM C, English C, Mathematics B, Chemistry C, Additional Mathematics C, Physics/Biology C, Sejarah pass.

    Sources:[1]

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    Science 2-year minimum: BM C, English C, Mathematics C, with a pass in Chemistry, Additional Mathematics, Physics/Biology/Computer Science and Sejarah.

    Sources:[1]

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    Computer Science minimum: BM, English, Mathematics, Additional Mathematics and Computer Science at C, Sejarah pass, and one more listed subject at C.

    Sources:[1]

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    Engineering minimum: BM C, English C, Mathematics B, Physics C, Additional Mathematics C, Chemistry pass, Sejarah pass, plus one listed subject at C.

    Sources:[1]

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    Accounting minimum: BM, English and Mathematics at C, Sejarah pass, plus three listed subjects at C.

    Sources:[1]

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    Professional Accounting minimum: BM C, English A-, Mathematics A, Additional Mathematics C, Sejarah pass, three listed subjects at A, plus passing KPM's aptitude test and interview; run with ACCA and UiTM.

    Sources:[1]

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    Applicants must be Malaysian citizens, no older than 20 when applying, and current SPM candidates.

    Sources:[1][4]

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    KPM said on 8 April 2026 that it would offer 2026/27 matriculation places to all 6,717 SPM 2025 candidates with 10A or above who applied, regardless of race or background, and that the 90 per cent Bumiputera quota remains unaffected.

    Sources:[3]

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    Matriculation tuition and accommodation are free.

    Sources:[1][4]

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    Eligible matriculation students receive RM2,500 a year in financial help; MyGOV names it Bantuan Sara Hidup Pelajar (BSHP).

    Sources:[1][4]

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    Applying to the Matriculation Programme was free for the 2025/26 session.

    Sources:[5]

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    The programme has 15 matriculation colleges and 2 Kolej MARA.

    Sources:[1]

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    Applications are made online at matrikulasi.moe.gov.my.

    Sources:[1]

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    For the 2025/26 session, phase one applications ran from 1 December 2024 to 28 February 2025, for SPM 2024 candidates.

    Sources:[5]

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    On 23 October 2026 the MyGOV Matrikulasi KPM page listed no application dates or session years.

    Sources:[4]

  • Verified · Its sources say this.

    Matriculation graduates apply to public university degrees through UPUOnline in categories such as N (Science), P (Accounting) and J (Engineering).

    Sources:[2]

Sources

Numbers in the text, like [1], jump here.

  1. [1]
    Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia, Bahagian MatrikulasiProgram Matrikulasi: Meneraju Kejayaan Masa Depan (brochure) (opens in a new tab)Published 13 Feb 2025 · Checked 22 Oct 2026
  2. [2]
    Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (BKPA, Jabatan Pendidikan Tinggi)Soalan Lazim (FAQ) Fasa Permohonan UPUOnline bagi Lepasan SPM dan STPM/Setaraf Sesi Akademik 2026/2027 (opens in a new tab)Published 2026 · Checked 23 Oct 2026
  3. [3]
    Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia (KPM), via Jabatan Penerangan dmediaKenyataan Media: Semua Calon Cemerlang 10A SPM 2025 yang Memohon Program Matrikulasi Akan Mendapat Tempat (opens in a new tab)Published 8 Apr 2026 · Checked 22 Oct 2026
  4. [4]
    Portal Rasmi Kerajaan Malaysia (MyGOV)Matrikulasi KPM (school-leaver pathways) (opens in a new tab)Published 16 Mar 2026 · Checked 23 Oct 2026
  5. [5]
    Berita RTMPermohonan program matrikulasi sesi 2025/2026 dibuka mulai 1 Disember (opens in a new tab)Published 28 Nov 2024 · Checked 22 Oct 2026
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